Lost

What does it mean to be spiritually lost? We often hear Christians talk about the “lost.” The lost are people who have either not heard the gospel or who have decided that following Jesus is not for them. It also includes good, moral, religious people who do not have a personal trust in Jesus as both lord and savior. Those who are lost do not know that they are lost. Unless their eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit they see no need for Jesus in their lives. That is because the things of God are spiritually discerned. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 | NIV).

Jesus proclaimed he “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 | NIV). He used this short parable to summarize what he meant. “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:4-7 | NIV).